Tom Servo and MechaGodzilla: Charge of the Robots

I am really hard pressed to actually remember when I got so sick at least twice, within the same month, but by golly it happened. So after I finally woke up after a 14 hour nap………..I decided to try and finish up something art wise and put it up. I tried inking some of my commissions and was actually done with one…….and then I saved over my Zarab. So I got to re-ink it . So I decided to just stick with coloring. As you can see I am a fan of MST3K. I usually end up watching a lot of it when I am sick. Humor in their style tends to make me feel better. So I guess the entire idea behind this was to have Tom Servo, in battle mode, leading a battle charge of some of the most goofy and classic robot monsters from the cinema age. I tried to pick ones that really hold a special place in my heart. So here are robot monsters that really mean a whole lot to me. So lets star from the very top and go clockwise.

Kronos: Kronos is from the film of the same name Kronos 1957. The film is one of my all time favorite black and white B-movies. The title machine is a weapon sent by an alien race, to Earth. The robot is an accumulator of energy. It’s sole purpose is to drain all the resources of the planet and send it back to it’s home world. As it consumes it grows in size too. Not even an atom bomb can hurt this thing! In the end the brilliant scientists figure out a way to reverse the polarity on the robot. This causes it to actually feed on itself! In moments the monster blows up, ending it’s destructive consuming self. It’s an above average story for the time. The monster is simple, but effective. Like a silent monolith that tramples and devours everything. As you can see from the picture it has the ability to shoot powerful bolts of electricity from it’s odd rotating antenna.

Venus Robots: The Venus Robots are from the film Target Earth 1954. This was one of my earlier dvd purchases way back in the day. I knew nothing of the film, so I was pretty blown away with how effective it’s minimalist style was. True there are no giant monsters, and the robots (really it is just one suit they use in different scenes) is pretty cheap looking. But they work for the film style it is. Basically it comes off like a longer episode of Twilight Zone……..or a normal Outer Limits episode. In a nut shell, it is about a small band of overlooked survivors who did not make it out of the initial evacuation of Chicago. They have to band together and overcome the machines the prowl the city and seek to eliminate all life. There is not a whole lot to say about the film other than that. If you like classic science fiction I would say give it a try. The machines can barely walk I know, but they do have a cool disintegration beam from their eye

King Joe: The King Joe robot is from the television series Ultraseven 1967. There is a whole host of super cool robots from the nearly four decade old series of Ultraman. There are dozens that are just as cool, if not cooler than the oddly named golden giant. But King Joe was the first for me. It was the old English dub that use to show on TNT, early in the morning, way back in the day. He actually is 4 separate saucers that combine into one massive and unstoppable machine. He is controlled by the Pedan Seijin race. He was sent to Earth because the aliens feared a new chemical compound that had been created by an Earth scientist. It was strong enough to destroy their powerful armor. Armor that was strong enough to take all of Ultraseven’s energy beams and his Eye Slugger! In the end though the humans band together and attack the robot with a missile full of the stuff. Together with Ultraseven they were able to stop the metal juggernaut. King Joe has come back a handful of times throughout several different Ultra shows. Every time he looks slightly different and has been given different abilities. Still, none have really captured that unstoppable nature that the showa version inspired and instilled in the hearts of young viewers.

MechaGodzilla: MechaGodzilla is from the film Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla 1974. The original is still the best I almost always say when it comes to revamped characters. And MechaGodzilla is no exception. The showa incarnation was a demon of space titanium. A ruthless and cold weapon that maimed Angurius, and nearly killed King Seesar and Godzilla. It’s face is a frozen perpetual grin that gleams with fierceness. This machine was controlled by the Aliens from the 3rd Planet from the Black Hole (ya……..looooong title). He was constructed for one purpose. Complete elimination of any Earth forces that chose to resist the space monkey’s might. But the king of the monsters would not go down without a fight. Together with the help of King Seesar, and some humans, Godzilla overcame and destroyed the metal giant. MechaGodzilla would return for a sequel a year later. This time he was paired up with a massive red dinosaur called Titanosaur. While the film to me is much better than the original MechaGodzilla movie, the machine monster just comes off as bystander. He doesn’t engage in battle, except to get in a shot in the back when Godzilla is facing against Titanosaurus. The alien robot just did not seem to be as fearsome and deadly in his second appearance.

Zorka’s Phantom Robot: The Phantom Robot is from the film serial called The Phantom Creeps 1939. This troll looking robot is not actually the focus of the 12 part film serial. He is merely one of many tools that Dr. Zorka, (played by a the delightful and always eccentric Bela Legosa), uses. He is really kind of like a henchman that does what he is told from time to time. Interesting enough, Zorka was not a villain in the beginning. His inventions of his 8 foot robot, invisibility belt, and cell paralyzing meteor fragment, scared his former scientist friend and the United States government. His friend was angered that he was not allowing the government to have his new devices. Eventually Zorka’s wife is killed, forcing the scientist to retreat and swear eternal vengeance against all of society. Even though I have only seen the first 3 segments; (and that was only because they were on Mystery Science Theater 3000), it actually seemed very cool. The robot is really wild with that Grinch like face.

Gort: Gort is from the film The Day the Earth Stood Still 1951. Arguably the most popular of the robots that I chose for this piece, Gort was essentially a bodyguard robot to the alien Klaatu. He is part of an intergalactic police force that responds to violent actions taken by life forms. He is said to have unlimited power and could destroy the very Earth. Even though his vaporizing eye beam is cool, I doubt he could take out the entire planet with it Most of the movie he just stands guard in front of the ship. He would come back in the 2008 remake film of the same name. This Gort was essential the same, except he was much bigger and was actually a countless number of nano-bots all connected together. It’s a pretty faithful re-imagining of the robot. Different but still good.

Tom Servo: Tom Servo is from the television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 1988. This is my personal favorite robot of the quartet of robo buddies that were on the show. His humor is much more to my style of comedy. Dry sarcasm, coupled with loads of obscured references to other films and shows. I just love his design. It’s simple and just memorable. Add this with Kevin Murphy’s voice and you have the groundwork for a true television icon. I decided to liven up the character by giving him a sword and shield. A shield that is complete with one of the Space Invaders aliens haha.

All in all I am happy and am surprised I was able to get it done with this cold that I have gotten again. I would like to do a few more of these in the future with the characters of Crow and Gypsy. It was just fun to throw together a whole bunch of characters from all different walks of life. You have the oscar winners with the B-movie lovers….and everything between Hopefully some of my watchers will get a kick out of this piece J